Dacia prepares for UK SUV launch

Dacia has revealed that it will pit the Sandero Stepway against Vauxhall's Mokka and Ford's EcoSport in the UK in 2013.

The B-segment SUV will be available to order in January with the first deliveries expected to be made in May.

The compact crossover is priced from £7,995 to £10,795 and it will be the third model for Dacia, which is owned by Renault, following the release of the Duster SUV and Sandero hatchback in January.

So far the Sandero Stepway, which has been on sale globally since 2008, has proven popular in Europe and South America.

Drivers opting for the standard version can expect features such as electric front windows, Bluetooth, metallic paint, front fog lights and a radio/CD system with fingertip controls.

Meanwhile, the car's safety kit includes rear seat Isofix anchorage points as well as ESC and driver, passenger and front side airbags, which could help to keepcar insurance premiums manageable for motorists.

Those opting for higher-spec Laureate models can expect all of that plus other features including air conditioning, electric heated door mirrors, a MediaNav seven-inch touch-screen multimedia system with satellite navigation, and rear parking sensors.